Acheson Notches Shut-out In 1-0 Victory Over Grand Rapids-Greenway

Wes Vork-NSO

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JAN 20

Kerry Rodd-NSO

CLOQUET – Perhaps it was a precursor of things to come when the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton junior varsity girls hockey team shutout Grand Rapids/Greenway on Thursday night. A couple of hours later the CEC varsity did the same in taking a 1-0 home win over the Lightning.

A key to the Jacks win was their ability to nullify open ice for the talented sister duo of Morgan and Molly Illikainen. The pair are strong, swift skaters and they shoot the puck with force. CEC was able to make the pair work in confined quarters and it paid off with the win.

The lone goal of the game was scored when Jessie Ryan picked up a loose puck and tucked it past Lightning netminder Sydney Helmbrecht at the 10:18 mark of the first period. Little did fans on hand realize that the Jacks defense, and goalie Alyssa Acheson, would ice the game with stifling play.

It wasn’t as if the Lightning didn’t have a chance to win the game, but their lack of scoring on the power play was costly. Twice during the second period the Lightning skated with a player advantage, including a penalty that went well into the start of the second period. However, the Jacks penalty killers blocked shots, and for the most part pestered the talented Lightning into miscues. When the Lightning did find themselves in a position to score it was Acheson who slammed the door.

At 4:07 of the third period Jacks defender, Megan Nelson, was called for a tripping penalty. It was the third penalty in a row called and CEC and it was a great chance for the Lightning to even the score. Instead the Jacks easily killed the man-short situation and once Nelson returned CEC did not allow anything close to resembling a goal on Acheson.

For the game CEC outshot the Lightning 24-22 as Acheson made all 22 saves, while Helmbrecht finished with 23 saves in the loss.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com